Aligning and detent means for quick disconnect couplings



July 9,- 1946.

J. SNYDER ETAL 4 ALIGNING AND DETENT MEANS FOR QUICK DISGO NNECTCOUPLINGS v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 11, 1943 NWN 17 Jacob PushSnyder es Fre der/g/c Norton Pmnred July 9, 1946 UNITED ALIGNING ANDDETENT MEANS FOR QUICK DISCONNECT COUPLINGS Jacob Rush Snyder,Cleveland, and James Frederick Norton, Cleveland Heights,;hio';.assignors to Thompson Products; -Inc., a corporation of OhioApplication December 11, 1943, Serial No. 513,900

11 Claims. 1

',This invention relates to self-sealing couplings adapted for quickandeasy operation while automatically sealing the coupling parts when saidcoupling parts are detached from each other.

i More particularly, the present invention relates to improvements inaligning "anjd'detent means for the separable parts of a device forcoupling together the ends of fluid'co'nduits such, for example, astubes, pipes, hoses and the'like,;to place the same in unrestrictedcommunication when the parts are coupled togethera'nd to ends thereofwhen uncoupled.

" The present invention contemplates means of the coupling unit'to beshifted relatively with respect to each other within certain limits toprovide an opportunity for draining the couplin parts when disconnected.The means are "also Se h which permit the elements of one of thepartsadapted to be employed asposition finders when the parts 30f thecoupling unit "are coupled together for fluid flow communication.

A detachable coupling of the type vrith which the teaching ofthe-present invention is particularly advantageously adapted to beemployed comprising a'rnultiple number oi parts is'pro videdtodetachably connect the coupling'boxes and to control fluid flow'betweenth'e fluid; conduits connected'to said boxes. Oneof the parts ofthe valve member is adapted'tobe' retained in eachv of thecoupling-boxes for sealing the respective boxes when they are uncoupledto'prevent leakage or drainage of the fluid out of the ends'of the thenseparated fluid conduits.

'The valve member may advantageously take the form of a shiftablymounted member made up of a pair of interiitting plates whichare adaptedto cooperate with a plurality of inte'rlockingfingers on' each of thecoupling boxes to connect the coupling boxes together. One of the platescomprising-the valve memberis also adapted to be retained in each ofitheboxes when the coupling boxes are detached being shiitably suppor-tedby'the'locking fingers of its box.

According to the present invention, resilient detent means or the likeare provided in at least one of the coupling boxes for engagement with'3. slotted opening in the valve plate associated with the box when theparts of the coupling unit are disconnected and permitting the" shiftingof the valve plate with respect-to 'the lbox within limits imposed bythe extremities of the" slotted the coupling is'idi's'connected,

unit is disconnected. a

: Figure opening. Aligning means may advantageously be provided oneachplate to cooperate with'the slotted opening on the other of the platesfor aligningthe'valve elements together when'the coupling boxes areto beassembled in coupled relation and also, to depress the detent meansengaging the opening thereof to permit the valve member, when the platesare assembled in interfitting 'relationfto be shiftedinto engagementwith the severallocking fingers's'o as to couple the boxes together. W

It is, thus, an'objectot the present invention to provide'a detachablecouplingunit having a multi-part 1 separable valve member therein iorplacing the coupling boxes' comprising" the unit in fluid flowcommunication and sealing each coupling box of the unit-when; said unitis *discont d I I 1., 1 .3. 1" I1 I:

' Another objectof the present-invention is to provide means associated"with 'at'least" one of the boxes which coactswiththat part'ofthe valvemember associated with said coupling box to'profvide forth shifting ofsaid valve part withrefspect to its coupling box to alimited extent whenA further object f the present invention is -'tojprovide s'tligningmeans on each of the valve parts for rejgistrati'onwith' cooperatingmeans on the other'of the valve parts which will Iacilitate the assemblyofthec'ouplings. i if It is a still further object of the present"inventionto provide resilient detent mean's 'ior at least one ofthecoupling boxes which'will cooperate with means on the valveplateassociated therewith which are arranged to be disengaged therefromby aligning means associated with the other "of the valve parts'when thecou'pling boxes of the unit are assembled in coupled rela- Anotherimportant object of the present invention" is to f'prov'ide meansassociated with each coupling boxwhich will permit the shifting-of thevalve part associated therewith with respect to its coupling box'toanexten't suflicientto permit said coupling box to be drainedbut'insuflicient'to' permit the valve partsto become disengaged from its"coupling box when the coupling sun other featuresend objects or theinvention will be'appare'nt as the detaileddescription of the annexedsheets of drawings which illustrate" a preferredembodiment of theinvention ro eeds On th'e'draWingsS V l-"illustrates an end elevation ofa typic 3 cal quick disconnect coupling with which the teaching of thepresent invention is particularly advantageously employed;

Figure2 is a plan of the coupling of Figure 1 illustrating the couplingboxes in coupled relation; I v

Figure 3 represents a vertical. cross-section through'the coupling unitillustrated in Figure 2 taken along the line III--III therein;

Figure 4 represents a horizontal cross-section along the line IV--IV inFigure l, with the coupling boxes of the coupling unit in assembledrelation;

Figure 5 is a cross-section.correspondinggem orally with that of Figure4,.but illustrating. the coupling boxes of the coupling unit indisassembled relation and sealed off;

Figure 6 represents an end View of oneof'thecoupling boxes with itsassociated valvev part in sealed relation with respect thereto;

- Figure '7 is an end view. of the other, of the coupling boxes with theparts in a relation which corresponds with that illustrated in Figure 6;

a Figure- 8 is afpartial elevation of the assembled coupling unit ofFigure 1 withparts broken away and in section to illustrate one of theoperating positions of the aligningand detent means ofthe presentinvention;

Figure 9 corresponds generally tov Figure/8 with the parts of thecoupling unit in disassembled relation and illustrating another positionof the'aligning and detent means;

Figure l0 is a plan view of another form of valve plate for the valvemember of a coupling unit which embodies the principles of the ,presentinvention;

Figure ll-isavertical cross-section taken along the line XIXI in Figure10; and

I Figure 1-2 is, a vertical cross-section taken along the-line12flI XIlin Figure 10. As shown on the drawings:

. 'I-n. Figures r and 2, the quick disconnect coil.- pling; unit I2which comprises a pair of coupling boxes; I3 and I4, joined together, influid flow communication by a shiftable on'more specifically, a slidablevalvemember I5 is particularly advantageous in that it demonstrate theapplication'of the; teachings of the present-invention. The couplingunit I2 is adapted to interconnect a pair of fluid conduits (not shown)which may include pipes, tubes, hoses and the like, threaded orotherwise suitably secured in the ports l6 and 11- of thecoupling boxesI3 and I4, respectively The coupling unit I2 illustrated i generallyQfjthG type shown and described in the Jacob;R,ush Snydercopendingapplication Serial No 505,755 entitled Quick disconnectcoupling,

October 11, 1943, The coupling boxes I3 and I4 are preferablysubstantially identical in construction and design. The coupling box I3,however, is illustrated as differing from coupling box I4 by virtue ofthe provision thereon of a mounting flange ody p r ion andn of. said o nngboxes provided l3 and I4, respectively. As will be apparent fromFigures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the several finger 20, 2I, 211a and 2laof the coupling boxes I3 and I4, respectively, cooperate to enclose allbut two opposite sides of a generally rectangularly walled chamber 24when the coupling boxes I3 and-I4 are disposed in assembled relation(see Figure 3').' It will be best understood from Figure 4 that thechamber 24 is preferably open ended to receive the valve member I5 inslidable relation. therein.

The valve member I5 i preferably made up of a plurality of interfittingparts comprising, in the present. instance, the plates 25 and 26. Theplate 25 is provided with a plurality of flanged portions: 215 and 28which may advantageously be formed integrally with the body of saidplates and-disposed in alternately spaced relation along two of theopposite edges thereof. The plate 26 is provided with a plurality offlanged portions 21a and 28a which correspond in general. to theflangedportion 21 and 280i plate 25. The disposition of the flangedportions 21a and 28a on the plate 26 is such that they will cooperatewith spaces provided between the several flanged portions 2.! and 28 ofthe plate 25. thereby permitting, the' two plates to be mutuallyinterfitted in the manner illustrated in Figures 3 and 9 of the,drawings. 7

The plate 25 is provided with an aperture 29 extending therethrough. anddisposed substantially centrally of its lateral dimension but adtentequaltothe lateral projection of the flanged portions 2'! and 28' onsaid .plate,,as. will be readily apparent. from Figure 50f thedrawings.It will bev understood that the insert 30. may also, if. desired, be.formed integrally with the plate 25.

Theplate. 26, of the valve member I5,has a circularfa'perture33arranged. therein in the same manneras the aperturej29in the. plate 25.The

"aperture 33lis of. a diameter 'sufiicient to receive the, annular boss32 of the insert 30 therein.

'Thus,v when, the plates 25, and 26 of the valve member I5 areinterfitte'd, the annular boss 32 of the insert 30 will register withthe aperture 33-. and the face of' the boss'will be, flush with theouter; face of the plate 25. It will" be noted from Figures 4 and8 of,the drawings that when the plates 25 and 26, are assembled to. form thevalvemember l5 they are so' disposed that all of'the peripheral edges ofthe plates will. exactly coincide.

Achamber 34 which may advantageously beof generally cylindrical form isprovidedin-the end of the body portion 22 of the coupling box l3 whichisopposite to that in which the port I5 is formed and 'has an opening 35-extending from its base; to the base of the port I6. A similar chamber.3,5 is formed in the body portion 23 of the couplingbox I4 andcommunicates with the base of the port I'ltherein by means of an opening32'... A sealing assembly 38' is disposed in each of the chambers and36of the coupling-boxes I3 .I-4-,. -respectively; The Sealing, assemblies.38

are adapted; tOs. he. sen-adju t gso as. to. pr v nt sembled relation(see Figure-3).

leakage'of the fluid being handled by the coupling unit|2 betweenchambers 34 and 36 and the outer surfaces of the plates 25 and 26 aswell as between the walls of said chambers and the plates both when thecoupling boxes I3 and I4 are connected and when they are disconnected.

;ber34, or 36, so as tourge the sealing. ring 39 against the outer faceof the plates 25 or 26,- whichever it may be depending on whether thechamber 34 or 36 is considered. Spring 42 operates to hold the sealingring 39 in position both when the coupling boxes I3 and I4 are inconnected and disconnected relation. The sealing rin 39 mayadvantageously be formed of any suitable plastic or sealing materialsuch, for example, ;as cork, rubber, synthetic rubber, neoprene andother similar resilient or plastic material.

As previously explained, .the rectangularly walledchamber24 is formed bythe cooperative relation of the couplingboxes I3 and I4 so arrangedthatthe fingers 29, 2| and 26a, 2Ia of said boxes are disposed ininterlocking relation, as evidenced by Figure lof the drawings. Theprong like fingers 20 and 2| of the coupling box I3 are so formed thatthey will extend across the overall thickness of the mated. plates 25and 26 of the valve'member Iso that the inwardly turned end portions 44of the finger 2| will cooperate with the similar inwardly turned endportions of the fingers 20 to engage the outer or back surfaceof theplate 26 of the valve member I5. Similarly, the inwardly turned endportion 45 of the finger'ZIu, and the like portions of the fingers 20a.on the coupling box I4 will contact the back or outer surface of theplate'25 of the valve member I5'when the parts are in as- As will bestbe seen from Figures 3 and. 9 of the drawings, the overall width of theflanged "portion 21 and 28 of the plates 25 and the like portions 21aand 28a of the plate 26 corresponds to the base dimension of grooves 46of the fingers 2|, 2|a as well as that of the'grooves 41 of the. fingers20, 20a of the coupling boxes I3 and I4. Thus, when the coupling'box I3is detached from coupling box I4 of the coupling unit I2, as indicatedin Figure 5 or 9 of the drawings, the valve plates 25 and 26 will, ineach case, be retained in their associated coupling boxes.

Assisting in the maintenance of the valve member I5 and its constituentplates 25 and 26 in their properly disposed relation, both when thecoupling boxes I3 and I4 are connected and when they are disconnected,are the spring urged retaining or detent means 48 associated with oneor-both of said boxes. In the illustrated coupling unit I2, a detentmeans 48 is disposed in a bore 49 formed in the face of each of thecoupling boxes I3 and I4. The bore 49 in coupling box I3,.islocate dtoone side of the chamber 34 and adjacent one of the fingers-2D. Anidentical bore .49 isprovided in the coupling box I4.

The detent means 48, in each case, comprises acompression coil spring50. extending into bore 49 and urging the generally. cylindrical shell5| outwardly. -A substantially dome-shaped end portion 52 projects fromone end of the shell 5| and forms an annular shoulder 53 where it joinsthe body portion of said shell. The plate 25 of the valve member I5which is operatively associated with the coupling box I3 for sealing oifthe same when the coupling unit I2 is disassembled has a pair of slottedopenings 54 and 55v extending therethroug'h adjacent and parallel to oneedge of said plate, When the valve member I5 has been shifted into aposition in the coupling unit I2; so that the plates 25 and 26 will sealchambers 34 and 36 in coupling boxes -.I3 and I4, respectively, theboxes may then be detached from each other and the end por-' tion' 52 ofthe detent means 48 in coupling box I3 will register withslotted opening54. The shell 5| urged outwardly by spring 59 is prevented from passingthrough the slotted opening 54by contact of the annular shoulder 53 withthe outer face of plate 25 of valve member I5 adjacent said opening 54.

By virtue of the fact that the opening 54 is slotted or elongated, theplate 25 may be shifted slightly with respect to the coupling box I3.The extentof such shiftable movement is defined by the contact of theendportion 52 with one end or the other. of the opening 54. An aperture orbleed hole 56 isprov'ided in plate 25 and disposed alongthe longitudinalcenter line of said plate in order that it may line up partially withchamber 34 when the plate 25 is in one of the "extreme positions of its'shiftable movement, This-will permit the coupling box I3 to be drainedwhen desired. Y I

The shiftable movement of plate 25'with respect tocoupling box I3defined by the coaction of the detent means 48 and the opening 54is'sufii cient to provide for drainage of the box but prevents the platefrom being completely disengaged from fingers 20 and 2| of the box whichwould release the sealing assembly 38 in chamber 34 thereof. With plate25 shifted in the box I3 so that th end portion 52 of the detent'means 48 is in contact with the other extremity of the opening' 54, the bleedhole 56 is closed and the chamber 34 in said box is sealed off. Thesealed position 'of the elements of coupling box I3 is shown in fulllines in Figure 6 while the drain' position is represented'by the dottedlines. r :.:The plate 26 is provided with slotted openings 54a and 55a;as well as a bleed hole 56 all of which are identical to theircounterparts in the plate 25 and are arranged in identical relationtherein. The. general association and operation of the detent means'48of the coupling box I4 with respect to opening 54a in plate'26' is thesame as that described for the coupling box I3;

The plates 25 and 26'are each provided witha pair of aligning or cammeans 51, 58 and 51a, 58a. respectively, which may take the formof bentup portions on'the mating faces of the plates formed in a stampingoperation. All of said cam means are disposed on their respective platesin such manner that when the coupling boxes I3 and I4 and theirrespective plates 25 and 26 for valve member. I5 are placed together tobe cou pled, the cam means 51, 58 on plate 25 will registerwith'openings 54a, 55a, respectively, on plate 26 while thecam means51a, 58a on plate 26 will be disposed in the respective openings 54 and55 on plate 25. r

The registration of the cam means 51 and 51a.

with openings 54 and 54a just described will cause the shell 5| of eachdetent means 48 to be urged back into its bore 49. by the camming oftheend portion-520111; of the opening 54' or 54a and supporting said endportions temporarily on said cam means. This operation enables theshifting of valve member l to interlock the boxes I 3- and I4 for fluidfiow communication between port's l6 and. I1 thereof.

The cam means 58 and 5812 on plates 25 and 2 6, respectively, with themating of said plates, when boxes. I13 and M are to be coupled,register, as we have seen,.with openings 55aand 55, respectively. Theaforementioned cam meansdo not, however, completely fill the openingsinto-which they fit by virtue of the downwardly curving outer surfaces59, 59'athereon (see Figures 8 and 9). These surfaces-.59, 59a. of cammeans 58, 5.8av permit the end portions 52 of the respective detentmeans 48; to register with an end of the opening 55, 5511' when thevalve member is shifted to. port uncovering position with ports l6, l1and chambers 34, 36. of coupling, boxes l3 and M, respectively, in fluidflow communication and the boxes interlocked.

The registration of detent means 48 with the openings-55 and 55min themanner described prevents the valve member from being shifted further inone of its directions of movement. In Figure 8, it will be noted thatthe; valve member |5 may not be moved any further to the left by reasonof thefact that end portion 52 of shell 5| is against the right handextremity of opening 55a. The curved surface 59 of cam means 58 (or 59aof cam means 58a) will, however, aid in camming the-end portion 52 outof the opening 55a (or 55) if the valve member is shifted to the rightor to port covering position for disassembling thev coupling boxes l3and M.

The surfaceBB of cam means 51- (or 60 1; of cam means 510.) is also ofarcuate form and enables the-end'portion- 52 to contact the oneextremity of the opening 54a (or 54) to prevent the valve member [5 frombeing shifted beyond theport coverin position while the coupling boxesare disposed in adjacent relation.

It will be understood that the interrelation of the'several openings 54,55, 54a and 55a.and the cammeans5'l, 58, 51a and 58a on plates 25 and 2Bof valve member l5 aids materially'in aligning the two coupling boxesl3and |4- for assembling the coupling unit l2 for fluid flowcommunication. The shifting of valve member l5 laterally-causes theflanged portions 21, 28 and 21a, 28a of plates 25 and 26, respectivelyto engage with the interfitting fingers 20, 2|, Nuandila of boxes l3 andI4 to lock said boxes together.

Supplementing theoperation of one or more: of the several detent means48 and their cooperatingslotted openings 54 and: 54a of the valve plates25 and 26, respectively, of the valve member I5 which coact when theplates are disposed in sealing position with respect to their couplingboxes l3 and i4, is the projection or stop 63 whichmay advantageously beformed on the back of plate 25-. The stop 63, in this instance, is shownas projecting beyond the edge of plate 25 to an extent suflicient, forit to contact the side face of one of the fingers 20a of the couplingbox l4 when the couplin unit I2 is assembled and the valve member isshifted to port covering position. The stop 53 forms a positive meansforpreventing the valve member l5 irom being shifted beyond the point ofport covering position when it is desired to disassemble the couplingunit I2.

It will be understood that with the provision of the stop 63=,theslottedopening- 54' which coacts with, the detent means 48- mountedin: the con-- pling box 13 may be omitted. Inasmuch as the stop 63serves to limit the movement of the plate 25with respect to its'coupling box l 3', thisfunction. of" the slotted opening 54 will beperformed by the'stop. It will be apparent that the-stop 63 will permitthe relative shifting of plate 25 in the coupling box l3 for theybleeding of the part by the. use of bleed hole 56 in the mannerpreviously described since the stop is spaced from theouter periphery ofthe body of the-box |3' and its finger. 2| by the width of the finger20a when the. parts aredisassembled. The aligning or cam means5la onplate 26' for alignment with opening154-will, of course,.be unnecessaryif the slotted opening 54 in plate 25 is eliminated.

The complete combination of the aligning means detent, openingandstopmay beemployed as illustrated. or one or the other of them may, ifdesired, be. eliminated as indicated above.

A. similar projection or stop 63. may advantageously be provided in acorresponding positionon theplate 26 of: valve member 5. toeithersupplement. or displace the slotted opening 54a on plate 26 and itscooperating cam means 51- on plate 25. It will be understood furtherthat the instrumentalities of: the illustrated: embodiment of theinvention may take any of several other suitable forms.

Figures 10 and: 11. illustrate av form: of valve plate 62 for valvemember I5; such as may be formed in a die casting operation, whichcorresponds generally to plate 25. It has the. insert 30 formedintegrally with saidplate-62 to define the passageway 3| therethrough-The: flanged portions 21b and 28b correspond to their counterparts onplate 25.. The, cam means 51b and 5822 are also-formed integrally withthepl'ate 62. but instead of having arouate surfaces,. their surfacesmay he. stepped and yet will, perform the. same functions as thosepreviously'described'.

The slotted opening 54b is shown in Figure 12 as having. one. extremityon the facev of: plate 62 disposed adjacent the face of th coupling boxin, which itis to be mounted. tapered slightly to facilitate the.engagement and disengagement of the end portion 52 of the shell 5| of.a. detent means 48 as the plate. is shifted with respecttothe supportingcoupling box.

It will, of course, be understood that various details: of constructionmay be, varied through. a Wide range. without departing from. the:principles of; this invention and it is,,therefore, not the purposetolimit thepatent grantedihereon otherwise than; necessitated by the scopeof the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. A detachable coupling comprising a pair of portedcoupling boxes eachhaving supports thereon, a plurality of apertured members at least oneofwhich is shiftably mounted in-eachsupport for covering and; uncovering.the port in said coupling box; said members having means thereon whichmutually interfit and engage the supports of the other coupling box tolock said. coupling boxestogether when theports in said boxes areuncovered and to disconnect said coupling boxes and. disassemble saidapertured members from each other when the ports in: said boxes arecovered, means on: each of the coupling boxes which coacts' with its.respectiveapertured member to permit arestricted; relativemovement ofsaid member with respect to its: coupling box when thecoupling boxes'areuncoupled, and means-associated with each. of the couplingboxes forremoving therestraint of? the retaining. means-v fronr the 2. In a'coupling, a'pair of ported coupling boxes each slidably supportingapertured slides for covering and uncovering the ports, meanscooperating with the slides to couple the boxes together when theslidesare moved to port uncovering positioh,'retaining means in at leastone of the coupling boxes which coacts with'its slide to positionsaidslide with respect to its coupling b'oxwhen said boxes are coupled,means associated with th other couplingbox for removing the restraint ofthe retaining means from the slide supported by the fir stimen-tionedcoupling box, and means on at least one" of said slides for preventingdisengagement of the slide from its coupling box when the slide isshifted to port covering position but permitting limited relativemovement therebetween. I

3. A detachable coupling comprising a pair of ported coupling boxes eachhaving supports thereon, a plurality of apertured members at least oneof which is shiftably mounted in each support for covering anduncovering the port in said coupling box, said members having meansthereon which mutually interfit and engage the supports of the othercoupling box to lock said coupling boxes together when the ports in saidboxes are uncovered and to disconnect said coupling boxes anddisassemble said apertured members from each other when the ports insaid boxes are covered, detent means in each coupling box, a slottedaperture in each of the apertured members for disengagably receiving thedetent means to restrict the relative shifting of said apertured memberswith respect to the coupling boxes in which they are mounted when theboxes are disconnected, and a boss oneach apertured member forregistration with the slotted aperture on the other of said aperturedmembers when the boxes and their associated apertured members areinterfitted to connect them together.

4. A detachable coupling comprising a pair of ported coupling boxes, aslide shiftably supported in each coupling box for covering anduncovering the port therein, means on the coupling boxes cooperatingwith said slides to couple said boxes together when the slides areshifted to port uncovering position, a pair of apertures in one of saidslides, a detent means in the coupling box supporting the aperturedslide for engagement with one of the apertures for providing limitedrelative movement of the slide with respect to its box when the boxesare uncoupled, and means on theother slide for disengaging the detentmeans from the first mentioned aperture for engagement with the otheraperture when the coupling boxes are assembled in coupled relation.

5. A detachable coupling comprising a pair of ported coupling boxes, aslide shiftably supported in each coupling box for covering anduncovering the port therein, means on the coupling boxes cooperatingwith said slides to couple said boxes together when the slides areshifted to port uncovering position, a pair of apertures in each of saidslides, a detent means in each coupling box for engagement with one ofthe apertures in the slide supported by said coupling box for providinglimited relative movement of the slide with respect to its box when theboxes are uncoupled, and means on each of said slides which registerswith the apertures on the other of said slides when the coupling boxesare assembled in coupled relation for disengaging the detent meansfro'meach 7 of the first-mentioned apertures for engagement witheach ofthe remaining apertures when the slides are shifted to couple the boxestogether;

6. In a detachable coupling having a pair of ported coupling boxes and amul-ti-part valve member shiftably supported by said coupling boxes forcovering and'uncovering said ports, one

of said parts being supported in each box when the ports are covered andsaid boxes are uncou- *means of its 'coupling box for limiting theextent of"r"elative movement between each valve -part and its boxwhenthe boxes are uncouplei'and cam means on each valve part for cammingthe detent means out of engagement with the opening in the other valvepart when the coupling boxes and their respective valve parts areassembled in coupling relation.

7. In a multi-part detachable coupling for establishing fluid fiowcommunication between a pair of conduits, a shiftable member slidablymounted in each coupling part for alternately connecting the parts ofsaid coupling together and sealing said parts against leakage of fluidtherefrom when disconnected, said shiftable member comprising a pair ofplates having a plurality of interfitting projections thereon, a portiondefining a fluid passageway extending through said plates, restrictingmeans defining limited relative movement of said plates with respect totheir coupling parts when said parts are disconnected, and means forrendering said restricting means inoperative to prevent slidablemovement of the shifta-ble member when the plates thereof areinterfitted and the coupling parts are assembled for connection, I l

8. A detachable coupling for interconnecting a plurality of conduits forthe flow of fluid therethrough comprising a pair of passaged couplingboxes, said coupling boxes having interlocking fingers thereon, a pairof plates slidably mounted between the interlocking fingers in thecoupling boxes, said plates having interfitting flanged portions adacent their contiguous faces to detachably connect said coupling boxesin fluid flow communication, said flanged portions on each platecoacting with the fingers on the coupling box associated therewith toretain the plates therein upon detachment .of said coupling boxes,detent means on said coupling boxes, apertures in each of said platesfor disengagably receiving the detent means, and cam means on each ofsaid plates for disengaging said detent means from the apertures whenthe coupling boxes are connected together.

9. In a coupling, a pair of orted coupling boxes each shiftablysupporting a valve member for covering and uncovering the ports, saidvalve members having bleed holes therethrough, means on said couplingboxes coacting with the valve members to couple the boxes together whensaid valve members are moved to port uncovering position, and means oneach of the valve members coaoting with the coupling box supporting theother valve member for stopping shifting movement of the valve membersbeyond port covering position and coacting with the coupling boxes inwhich the valve members are supported to permit additional limitedmovement of the valve members when the coupling boxes are separated toplace the bleed holes of the valves in 1":1 communication with the portsof the coupling :boxes supporting the respective valves.

10. In a, coupling, first and second ported coupling boxes, first andsecond valve members .re-

spectively .shiftably mounted in said boxes to .cover and uncover theports of the boxes, said first valve having a bleed hole thereinrandmeans on the first valve member 'coacting with the second box to stopshifting of the valve member when the boxes are together before thebleed hole registers with the ports of the boxes and said means alsocoacting with the first box when the boxes are apart to provide foradditional limited vmovement of the valve member in the first box toplace the bleed hole in registration "withthe port of said first box.

JACOB RUSH SNYDER. vJAMES FREDERICK NORTON.

